Thursday, January 21, 2016

Please Join us in welcoming Alina Popescu to Sinfully on the Blog Tour of her new release Br0th3erly.

For the Love of Geeks and Social

If you’ve heard anything about Br0th3rly so far, then you’ve heard it’s about geeks and geeky things. Or at least you know that the series is about those things along with fame on the Internet. You might be wondering why I went with bloggers, YouTubers, and other Internet celebrities. Well, it’s easy. I am a geek, or nerd, or whatever you want to call it. I have been blogging for about eleven years now, I’ve been on Twitter and Facebook since back when there weren’t so many people to follow, and I’ve watched so many YouTube videos, trailers, tutorials, interviews…. You get it, right? I love my own geekiness and that of others, and I love everything social.

I do believe Internet celebrities are just as followed, loved, harassed, and idealized as any other celebrities. The only difference is that most of them, especially YouTubers, rarely have someone to filter through all the hate mail, angry comments, and general trolling. I mean, you’ve met the Internet, right?

As you read Br0th3rly, you will notice the comments on the blog Tristan is running are disabled. The reason for that is simple – you can’t write about being in love with your brother, even if he’s not really related to you, and not get a lot of hate. Anti-social? Maybe. But the story is supposed to also highlight the versatility of blogs – sometimes all they are is an anonymous outlet for whatever is troubling the author.

Choosing to be anonymous on the Internet does not limit your chances of becoming famous, as Tristan soon finds out. Nor does it mean people won’t do their best to find you—see the publisher who reached out to Tristan. If we love our geeks enough, we’ll find a way to show it. Or, in this case, turn it into a business…

In all fairness, Tristan did not go to great lengths in hiding his identity. No hopping from one anonymous proxy to the next, to show him as living in Siberia! He genuinely thought no one read his blog because a. no one cared and b. no one had ever experienced something similar. The truth is there’s always someone like you out there, our uniqueness is highly overrated. Also, a lot of us have read Japanese manga before, we know what Tristan is experiencing is mild in comparison.

Back to my love of all things social, there will be a few more stories in this series. A YouTube rocker, a makeup enthusiast, and a fitness expert, all famous online, will be the next stars to step onto the stage. Till then, get to know Tristan, his blog, and his brother better. I think you’ll like them J

Br0th3erly (Famous on the Internet Book 1)

Alina Popescu

Synopsis

Fighting his relentless love for Trevor, the guy he was raised to consider his brother, has been Tristan’s mission in life. To distance himself from Trevor, even after discovering they weren’t really related, he left for college at sixteen. Moving into the city, building a new life, and running an anonymous blog about what he considers sick, twisted feelings might make Tristan famous on the Internet, but it isn’t enough to get over his obsession. Every time he goes home, a quick glance at Trevor brings it all flooding back. When commitment-phobe Trevor announces he’s got a serious boyfriend during one of Tristan’s rare visits home, the adoring kid brother will be forced to run once again. This time, however, Trevor doesn’t stand back and watch him leave. Instead, he follows him, making it nigh on impossible for Tristan to keep his love a secret for much longer.

Purchase Links

Book Trailer

Excerpt

As I slouched in my seat, barely visible over the steering wheel, I saw a strange bike pass by, make an illegal U-turn, and pull in behind me. Oh fuck, no! This couldn’t be. I slid further down into my seat, but my head turned without my saying so, my eyes glued to the image in the mirror. Strong thighs carried an impressive, jean-clad package closer to me. I could tell my brother’s package from thousands. I’d been lusting after that particular cock since I was ten. I knew every vein, every ridge, every shade that had ever adorned it. I groaned and pinched the bridge of my nose. Sweet gods of brotherly love, keep me in one piece. I wasn’t supposed to see him till tonight. He was working or something; I didn’t know what. I never paid attention to Mom’s chatter.

“Hey, Trist. What do you think? Are they going to revive her this time?” His warm yet teasing voice washed over me, sending shivers up and down my body. Eight fucking months since I’d seen him last and this was how much I’d evolved. Less than a minute and I was already losing my shit.

“Trevor, what the fuck are you doing here? I thought Dad was going to pick me up.” I cringed at the harshness of my tone and felt more than heard his gasp. I was so attuned to how my brother reacted, I could have guessed every little gesture he’d make to respond to absolutely everything.

“Wow, Trist, aren’t you happy to see me,” he said in a barely audible whisper.

I pushed myself to look at him and gave him an apologetic smile. Taking in those dark eyes, the high, angular cheekbones, the olive, flawless skin, and the full, dark red lips with their natural pout, I sighed and wondered how exactly I was going to be here for the next three nights and not go completely off my rocker.

“Sorry, Trev. I’m tired, this car’s shit, and Dad said—”

“Don’t sweat it.”

He cut me off harshly, waving a hand. I’d hurt his feelings, I knew. Ever since I’d fled to college, I’d been giving my brother the cold shoulder. It was hard at first as we’d always been close, but the more time passed, the better I became at it.

“Come on, get in. It’s hot as hell out there.”

To my relief, he nodded and walked around to the passenger seat. He got in with that annoying grace of his which was unfathomable coming from someone who’d never been involved in any activity that would explain such a trait. Quite the contrary, he’d always played on the bad boy side, loud and threatening, getting himself into trouble more often than not.

Meet Alina Popescu

Writer, traveler, and coffee addict, Alina Popescu has been in love with books all her life. She started writing when she was ten and she has always been drawn to sci-fi, fantasy, and the supernatural realm. Born and raised in Romania, she finds her inspiration in books of all genres, in movies, and the occasional manga comic book. She is a proud geek who needs her fast Internet and gadgets more than she needs air.

Giveaway

1x$10 WIP Gift Card

2x1 Backlist Title from WIP – anthologies and individual releases included